Vertical Storage Vessel

Abstract

A vessel for containing liquefied petroleum gas and a method for loading a semitrailer with a plurality of vessels is disclosed. The vessel may include a tank with an outside diameter that is greater than thirty inches and less than thirty-four inches. The tank may be configured to contain at least 119 water gallons, and may be further configured to contain liquefied petroleum gas.

1 . A vessel for containing liquefied petroleum gas, comprising:
 a tank having an outside diameter that is greater than thirty inches and less than thirty-four inches, the tank being configured to contain at least 119 water gallons, and being further configured to store liquefied petroleum gas.   
   
   
       2 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the tank has an outside diameter of thirty-three inches. 
   
   
       3 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel has an overall length that is no greater than four feet. 
   
   
       4 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is configured to contain a quantity of water gallons that is at least 2.7 times an overall length of the vessel in inches. 
   
   
       5 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a collar coupled to a top portion of the tank; and   a lid coupled to the collar.   
   
   
       6 . The vessel of  claim 5 , wherein the lid comprises a top surface that is substantially perpendicular to an imaginary longitudinal centerline of the tank, when the lid is in a closed position. 
   
   
       7 . The vessel of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the collar comprises a collar hinge portion, the collar hinge portion and the collar being fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal; and   the lid comprises a lid hinge portion, the lid hinge portion and the lid being fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal.   
   
   
       8 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel complies with American Society of Mechanical Engineers standards for pressure vessels. 
   
   
       9 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel complies with United States Department of Transportation regulations for portable cylinders. 
   
   
       10 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of valves wherein at least three valves of the plurality of valves are substantially aligned in a straight line.   
   
   
       11 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is configured to contain at least 320 water gallons. 
   
   
       12 . The vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the tank is configured to contain at least 400 water gallons. 
   
   
       13 . A method of loading a semitrailer with vessels, comprising:
 providing a plurality of vessels, each vessel having an outside diameter that is greater than thirty inches and less than thirty-four inches, each vessel being configured to contain at least 119 water gallons, and being further configured to contain liquefied petroleum gas;   loading at least thirteen stacks of vessels on a semitrailer, wherein each stack comprises nine vessels, and wherein an imaginary centerline of each vessel is substantially horizontal.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 unloading the at least thirteen stacks of vessels from the semitrailer.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each vessel is separated from an adjacent vessel by protective material. 
   
   
       16 . A method of loading a semitrailer with vessels, comprising:
 providing a plurality of vessels, each vessel having an outside diameter that is greater than thirty inches and less than thirty-four inches, each vessel being configured to contain at least 320 water gallons, and being further configured to contain liquefied petroleum gas;   loading at least six stacks of vessels on a semitrailer, wherein each stack comprises nine vessels, and wherein an imaginary centerline of each vessel is substantially horizontal.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 unloading the at least six stacks of vessels from the semitrailer.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each vessel is separated from an adjacent vessel by protective material.